Minto Metals Corp (TSX-V:MNTO) said final results from its 2022 exploration drilling program at the Minto Mine have revealed a newly discovered mineralized zone between the Minto North and Main open pits.
The company noted that drill hole 22EXP058 cut 11.40% Copper (Cu), 0.51 grams per tonne (g/t) Gold (Au), 43.93 g/t Silver (Ag) over 4.00 metres (m) at approximately 100m vertical depth in the newly discovered zone.
“The high-grade mineralization reported for drill hole 22EXP053 are some of the highest-grade copper assays returned in the history of exploration at the Minto Mine. Drill holes 22EXP053 and 22EXP058 were drilled in an area of complex geology between the Minto North and Minto Main Pit testing geophysical anomalies at depth below the "Inferno" prospect, a near-surface, undefined prospect,” David Benson, vice-president of Exploration, said in a statement.
READ: Minto Metals reports higher copper production in 2022 despite challenging weather conditions
“The 2022 exploration drilling campaign is now complete and we consider it a great success with the discovery and confirmation of two new mineralized zones and numerous other very significant mineralized intersections, as reported in 2022-2023. Future drill campaigns will be designed to follow up on Minto West and Minto East," he added.
Drilling highlights include:
- Hole 22EXP053: 2.19% Cu, 0.24 g/t Au, 14.02 g/t Ag over 7.31m at approximately 450m vertical depth and 150m north-west of the Minto Main pit;
- Hole 22EXP055: 1.66% Cu, 1.31 g/t Au, 12.10 g/t Ag over 1.24m at approximately 250m vertical depth and immediately south of the Minto North II orebody; and
- Hole 22EXP057: 1.33% Cu, 0.35 g/t Au, 19.22 g/t Ag over 3.12m at approximately 300m vertical depth and 200m north of the Minto Main pit.
The company said it continues working with ALS Goldspot Discoveries on 3D geology modeling and 2D/3D prospectivity targeting for the Minto Mine site property located within the Selkirk First Nation's Territory in central Yukon.
The Minto mine has been operating since 2007 with underground mining starting in 2014. Since 2007, approximately 500 million pounds of copper have been produced from the Minto mine. The current mine operations are based on underground mining, a process plant to produce high-grade copper, gold, and silver concentrate, and all supporting infrastructure associated with a remote location in Yukon.
Contact the author at jon.hopkins@proactiveinvestors.com